CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AFP) — South Africa's Nelson Mandela remains "quite ill" and is unable to speak, using facial expressions to communicate as he receives intensive medical care at home, his former wife told media.

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela said the 95-year-old was not on life support but

he was no longer talking "because of all the tubes that are in his mouth to clear (fluid from) the lungs".